Background and aims

Internet usage worldwide has become a primary source of health-related information and an important resource for parents to find advice on how to promote their child’s development and well-being. It is important that healthcare professionals understand what information is available to parents online to best support families and children. The current study evaluated the quality of online resources accessible for parents of children who are late to talk.

Method

Fifty-four web pages were evaluated for their usability and reliability using the LIDA instrument and Health on the Net Foundation code of conduct certification, and readability using the Flesch Reading Ease Score and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. Origin, author(s), target audience, topics discussed, terminology used, and recommendations were also examined.

Results

The majority of websites scored within the moderate range (50–90%) for total LIDA scores and usability, but scored in the low range for reliability (<50%). Significantly higher reliability scores (p < 0.001) were found for sites with Health on the Net Foundation code of conduct certification. Readability fell within the standard range. The largest proportion of websites were American, written by speech-language pathologists, with the most common topics being milestones, tips and strategies, and red flags. Discrepancies were mostly seen in terminology and misinformation, and when present, usually related to risk factors and causes.

Conclusion

Prior to recommending websites to parents, health professionals should consider readability of the content, check that information is up-to-date, and confirm website sources and reputable authorship. Health professionals should also be aware of the types of unclear or inaccurate information to which parents of children who are late to talk may be exposed online.

中文翻译：

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迟到说话孩子家长网络资源质量分析

 背景和目标

全球互联网的使用已成为健康相关信息的主要来源，也是父母寻求如何促进孩子发展和福祉建议的重要资源。重要的是，医疗保健专业人员了解家长可以在线获取哪些信息，以最好地支持家庭和儿童。目前的研究评估了说话迟到的孩子的父母可以访问的在线资源的质量。

 方法

使用 LIDA 工具和 Health on the Net Foundation 行为准则认证评估了 54 个网页的可用性和可靠性，并使用 Flesch Reading Ease Score 和 Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 评估了可读性。还检查了起源、作者、目标受众、讨论的主题、使用的术语和建议。

 结果

大多数网站的 LIDA 总分和可用性得分处于中等范围 (50–90%)，但可靠性得分处于较低范围 (<50%)。获得 Health on the Net Foundation 行为准则认证的网站的可靠性得分显着更高 ( p < 0.001)。可读性落在标准范围内。最大比例的网站是美国网站，由言语病理学家编写，最常见的主题是里程碑、提示和策略以及危险信号。差异主要出现在术语和错误信息中，如果存在差异，通常与风险因素和原因有关。

 结论

在向家长推荐网站之前，健康专业人员应考虑内容的可读性，检查信息是否是最新的，并确认网站来源和信誉良好的作者。卫生专业人员还应该意识到，迟到的孩子的父母可能会在网上接触到哪些类型的不清楚或不准确的信息。